‘Covid generation’ struggles with work, minister suggests

Liz Kendall, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, made a slew of comments suggesting that the Covid-19 pandemic had negatively impacted young people’s perception of the workplace and encouraged reliance on the welfare system.

In an interview with ITV News, she stated: “I think there is genuinely a problem with many young people, particularly the Covid generation […] but we can’t have a situation where doing a day’s work is in itself seen as stressful”.

During the pandemic, mental health issues became far more widespread. The proportion of
adults exhibiting symptoms of depression has almost doubled since the pandemic began. The rising rates of people citing mental health issues have not faltered since.

Growing rates of mental health issues intersect with the Treasury’s ongoing pressure to reduce welfare spending.

We have to reorientate that [£20 billion spending on sickness and disability] into precisely the support we need to get people into work

Liz Kendall, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

Kendall’s comments illustrate the government’s intentions to cut welfare dependency by encouraging more of the 2.8 million people registered with long-term sickness in 2024 to return to work.

Attributing these issues to a lack of proficient support structures, Kendall suggested that restructuring could address these issues.

She said: “We have to reorientate that [£20 billion spending on sickness and disability] into precisely the support we need to get people into work.”

Kendall also distanced herself from the previous Conservative government’s position on tackling “sick-note culture” in Britain, but claimed that some individuals are taking advantage of the system, stating “there are people who shouldn’t be on those benefits who are taking the mickey and that is not good enough”.

She added: “I think there’s an easy headline about it’s all one or all the other. And as ever, life is more complex.”

While specific policy changes were not touched upon, Kendall said that a green paper is in the works to help with provision of healthcare services and overhauling job centre operations, with the aim of tackling rising rates of mental health afflictions and welfare exploitation post-Covid.

The prioritisation of minimising welfare costs by reducing economic inactivity follows the
wider government’s “growth mission”, which involves “hard-wiring growth into all decisions of
the Cabinet”.